DC Live- Electric Guard Prospects

New readers: Use code Proia30   I attended three different events during the first scholastic live period session to try and see as many of the local teams play as possible in a big weekend for college recruitment. In this article we will focus on the top local wing and forward prospects that I saw at DC Live at Sidwell Friends in Washington DC this past weekend. Let's dive in!    20p 3r 3a 4s (7/12 FG 3/6 3P 3/4 FT) vs DCI   -Bontzolakes is a pretty safe bet to make a nice jump in our next set of updated rankings after putting on a very balanced performance in a win over DCI. He has a smooth handle and a good change of tempo with the ball in his hands as a skilled G prospect that can operate effectively in a crowded paint era or in spread offense possessions. He scored off a double crossover into the and1 bump n lay off the window, hit a couple turn-around and touch shots in the paint, and knocked down a trio of threes in the 2H that blew the game open. A good live dribble passer with either hand, I liked that he didn't force the action as a guard that knows where he wants to go with the ball but also has the skill to improvise/react to both the on or off-ball defenders. Excited to see him again this summer to get a better feel for long-term fit/level, but there is enough skill here with good positional size to feel optimistic about his long-term potential.     18p 9r 7a 2s 1b vs Petersburg   -The offense is really coming along to catch up with the trademark defense for a prospect that is making a case for the #1 spot in our upcoming rankings. Smith-Bey has worked hard to smoothen his handle to not only get to his spots in the halfcourt but create off a live dribble on designed reads. But he is also much more confident shooting the rock (50/40/80 shooting splits) as a guard that can play off the ball as a corner shooter or downhill slasher that can make plays in the short roll due to his size and finishing ability. The combination of physicality, leaping ability, and a quiet killer mentality give validity to offers from Georgetown and Virginia Tech in the days following the event.     32p 11r 1a 1b 3s 65/50/100 FG vs Tech Prep; 17p 4r 1s vs Roosevelt   -Smalling can really score it as a CG prospect that has added some nice burst off the dribble and bounce above the rim to become a well-rounded guard that is a threat to score from all 3 levels. I liked the blend of size to bully his way to the basket and IQ to get both his man/help defenders in the air to draw fouls around the rim. Smalling is a confident shooter that is just as comfortable sitting behind a screen and launching a deep 3 as he is utilizing a screen to get to his elbow jumper off the dribble. He has both the necessary size and physicality to defend either guard spot and plays with a good motor to win 50/50 balls in the halfcourt. Interested to track his development over the next year as a guard prospect that isn't too far away from earning a few scholarships with further skill development.     15p 2r 2a 2s 5/9 3P vs Coolidge -Love the tenacity that Claiborne played with as a guard that is comfortable playing off the ball as a knockdown shooter or as a decision-maker in the PnR. Claiborne made a shot from both corners to give a stalled Petersburg offense a jolt of life midway through the 1H, had a smooth drive and drop off to a big in transition, threw a beautiful chest pass over the opponent immediately after getting the kick-ahead in transition for the easy dunk for his big, and provided pesky POA defense for his team. Love that he didn't shy away from physicality and infused some life into a team that got rocked by Coolidge's physicality out the gate.     20p 6r 1a 1s 1b 8/12 FG vs Spring Mill   -One of the most slept-on prospects in the area, Dunbar has progressed each year into a bigger and more meaningful role for a McKinley Tech team that needs his physicality to set the tone at both ends of the floor. Dunbar knocked down both wing 3s that he took in the game to show his shooting development but didn't settle for 3s, hitting the glass effectively in the key to out-rebound forward prospects and finish through contact around the rim. A strong set of hands and upper body make him a difficult player to stop once he has a head of steam in transition because the handle has improved to adjust on the fly in split-second moments on the fastbreak.     25p 9r 6a 2s 1b 9/13 FG 2/3 3P vs Maret   -A true gem in the DMV that flies under the radar a bit outside of DC Public School circles, Brown continues to impress as the engine that makes this thing go at Dunbar. Brown is a strong, physical young prospect that has worked at his handle enough to become a primary creator both in transition and in the halfcourt. Brown simplifies the game and doesn't over-dribble getting to his spots, utilizing a spin move to protect the rock against smaller guards to set up easy finishing angles at the basket. I think he projects well as a strong wing defender that can scale up or down in lineups as a projectable matchup nightmare given the diversity in his offensive skillset.

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